The Sportsletter - 4 Downs for Week 4

BY JEFF YODER

SEPT. 30, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Welcome Back 👋

The NFL’s Week 4 is in the books, and so is the MLB regular season (almost). Before we launch October and the best sports month on the calendar, there’s a pair of must-see MLB and NFL doubleheaders tonight. Bama's big win put the Tide back on top in college football, and there was an NBA preseason blockbuster no one saw coming. Busy weekend. Let's run it back.

Letter Rip!

NFL

Week 4: Four-Down Territory

Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images

Week 4 Recaps: Ravens Throttle Bills for 1st Loss, Short-Handed Colts Stun Steelers & Commanders Rookie QB Jayden Daniels is No Joke

And then there were three... Page 4 of the NFL’s script did not disappoint. More surprises, upsets, and big moments took over Sunday’s sports slate. Two undefeated teams ate their first ‘L’ and the unbeaten club is now down to three teams. Plus, one rookie quarterback is shattering records, and a few coaches are starting to sweat. Let’s break down Week 4 with four downs.

4 Downs for Week 4

1st Down: 3 Unbeaten Teams Left

Two of the five undefeated teams fell on Sunday — the Steelers and Bills. Pittsburgh lost a nail-biter to the Colts in Indy (27-24) while Buffalo fell flat in Baltimore (35-10). Only the Chiefs (4-0), Vikings (4-0) and Seahawks (3-0) are still undefeated, but Seattle has to play in Detroit tonight on MNF.

2nd Down: Jayden Daniels is Cooking

The Commanders buried the Cardinals (42-14) behind another record-setting performance from rookie QB Jayden Daniels. He’s the first quarterback (not just rookie, but any quarterback) to complete more than 85 percent of his passes in two consecutive games. He went 26-for-30, and Washington (3-1) leads the NFC East.

3rd Down: More Injuries Stacking Up

A long list of star injuries dominated headlines over the first three weeks, and more brutality came on Sunday. Chiefs WR Rashee Rice (knee) was carted off and Jaguars LB Josh Hines-Allen (concussion) added injury to insult for Jacksonville. The Colts’ backfield was also hit hard. QB Anthony Richardson (hip) and RB Jonathan Taylor (ankle) got knocked out after Indy built a big lead.

4th Down: The Hot Seat Gets Hotter

Multiple coaches are feeling the heat after the league’s first month. The hottest seat belongs to Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson after Jacksonville blew a late lead to fall to 0-4. The Eagles (2-2) have lost eight of their last 11 since last season’s 10-1 start, and Philly fans are losing patience with Nick Sirianni. The Rams (1-3) also lost to the Bears, and they’re a field goal away from being 0-4. There’s no way Sean McVay is on the hot seat, right?

NFL Scores & Highlights (Week 4)

Cowboys def. Giants (20-15)

Texans def. Jaguars (24-20)

Bengals def. Panthers (34-24)

Buccaneers def. Eagles (33-16)

Broncos def. Jets (10-9)

Colts def. Steelers (27-24)

Bears def. Rams (24-18)

Falcons def. Saints (26-24)

Vikings def. Packers (31-29)

Commanders def. Cardinals (42-14)

49ers def. Patriots (30-13)

Raiders def. Browns (20-16)

Chiefs def. Chargers (17-10)

Ravens def. Bills (35-10)

Tonight’s Schedule (Monday Night Football)

Titans at Dolphins (7:30 pm ET, ESPN)

Seahawks at Lions (8:15 pm ET, ABC)

FOX Sports: Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Leaves Field on Cart After Collision

ESPN: NFL Week 4: Biggest Questions & Takeaways for Every Game

CFB

Tide Rise to No. 1 After SEC Classic 🌊

Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Alabama Beats Georgia (41-34) in the Game of the Year & The Crimson Tide Are Back on Top for 1st Time in the Post-Saban Era

It was a tale of two halves in the game of the weekend — nay, game of the year — Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. Alabama took a 21-0 lead over Georgia in the first quarter of the SEC’s most bitter rivalry, but the Bulldogs came barking back. In the end, Jalen Milroe and the Tide notched one last touchdown to hold on for a win that swung the polls. Bama is now back at No. 1 for the first time since Oct. 2, 2022. Kalen DeBoer hasn’t made Alabama fans miss Nick Saan less, but he’s sure keeping the Tide rolling. That game was far from the only must-see matchup of the weekend. Both #6 Ole Miss and #10 Utah were upset by unranked opponents while five ranked games were decided by one score.

Watch: Alabama Holds Off Georgia’s Comeback in Instant SEC Classic (41-34)

College Football Highlights (Week 5)

#1 Texas def. Miss. State (35-13)

#3 Ohio State def. Michigan State (38-7)

Kentucky def. #6 Ole Miss (20-17)

#8 Oregon def. UCLA (34-13)

#9 Penn State def. #19 Illinois (21-7)

Arizona def. #10 Uah (23-10)

#12 Michigan def. Minnesota (27-24)

#16 Notre Dame def. #15 Louisville (31-24)

#17 Clemson def. Stanford (40-14)

#23 Kansas State def. #20 Okla. State (42-20)

#21 Oklahoma def. Auburn (27-21)

#24 Texas A&M def. Arkansas (21-17)

AP Poll (Top 10)

1. Alabama (4-0) | ↑3

2. Texas (5-0) | ↓1

3. Ohio State (4-0) | —

4. Tennessee (4-0) | ↑1

5. Georgia (3-1) | ↓3

6. Oregon (4-0) | ↑2

7. Penn State (4-0) | ↑2

8. Miami (5-0) | ↓1

9. Missouri (4-0) | ↑2

10. Michigan (4-1) | ↑2

Full AP Poll (Top 25)

MLB

The MLB Season Wrap (Almost) ⚾️

Photo: Mark Cunningham / Getty Images

Tigers & Royals Claim AL Bids, Bobby Witt Jr. (AL) & Luis Arraez (NL) Win Batting Titles, But Today's Twin Bill Will Decide Last 2 Spots

Sunday marked the final day of the MLB regular season, officially, but we’ve got bonus baseball with October on the line. The Royals and Tigers (both 86-76) locked up the last two AL Wild Cards over the weekend, keeping the Mariners (85-77) out of the postseason by just one game. And in case you wondered, yes. The White Sox set the futility record by one game (41-121).

Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) won the AL batting title. Luis Arraez (Padres) won his third straight batting title (with three different teams!). Speaking of three different teams, today's Braves-Mets doubleheader will determine the NL Wild Cards for three clubs. It's basically a play-in to October. Let's take a look.

MLB Playoff Outlook

American League

(1) Yankees

(2) Guardians

(3) Astros

(WC1) Orioles

(WC2) Royals

(WC3) Tigers

National League

(1) Dodgers

(2) Phillies

(3) Brewers

(WC1) Padres

Remaining Wild Cards (2): Braves (88-72), Mets (88-72), Diamondbacks (89-73)

Tonight's NL Wild Card Scenarios

If Braves & Mets Split: Braves (5), Mets (6), D-Backs (Eliminated)
If Braves Win Both: Braves (5), D-Backs (6), Mets (Eliminated)
If Mets Win Both: Mets (5), D-Backs (6), Braves (Eliminated)

Tonight’s Doubleheader

Mets at Braves (1:10 pm ET, MLBTV)

Mets at Braves (4:40 pm ET, MLBTV)

MLB: Bobby Witt Jr. Secures Batting Title as Royals Clinch 2nd Wild Card Spot

CBS Sports: Shohei Ohtani Falls Just Shy of First NL Triple Crown in 87 Years; Luis Arraez Wins NL Batting Title

NBA

A Preseason Blockbuster Trade? 👀

Photo: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images

Knicks & T-Wolves Swap All-Stars Julius Randle & Karl-Anthony Towns 3 Weeks Before NBA Season Tips Off

After a quiet NBA offseason trade market with an Olympics break in the summer, we finally found a blockbuster. In a shocking move on Friday, the Timberwolves and Knicks swapped All-Star big men in a trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle. The trade gives the Wolves a more physical inside presence while the Knicks get a more offensive-minded scorer. The NBA season begins in just three weeks.

Trade Details

Knicks Get: Karl-Anthony Towns

T-Wolves Get: Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, 2025 Protected 1st-Round Pick

CBS Sports: The Knicks Will Forever Be Indebted to Julius Randle

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

WNBA Playoffs (Semifinals)

G1: Liberty def. Aces (87-77)

Breanna Stewart (34 pts) Unstoppable in Game 1

G1: Sun def. Lynx (73-70)

Alyssa Thomas Hits 2 Clutch Shots in Final Minute

⚽️ Soccer

SPA: Madrid Derby Ends in Draw (1-1)